Arcadia couple rescued after hours stranded in Gulf during dive near Boca Grande

PLACIDA, Fla (WINK) An Arcadia couple is sharing their story after a routine scuba diving trip turned into a fight for survival off the coast of Boca Grande.

Tony Rivera and Brianna Rutledge say they were diving several miles offshore Thursday afternoon when their boat drifted away, leaving them stranded in open water for hours.

“I panicked, I screamed, and I didn’t think this would ever happen,” Rivera said.

Rivera says the couple surfaced from their dive expecting to return to their boat, only to find it gone. He believes the anchor failed as conditions worsened above the surface.

According to the WINK Weather Authority, a Small Craft Advisory was in effect at the time, with northeast winds between 15 and 20 knots and sea waves building to 3 to 5 feet. Rivera says those conditions quickly made it difficult to see land and even harder to swim.

The couple began making their way toward shore, staying afloat using their scuba gear and wetsuits. Rivera says they alternated positions in the water to conserve energy, at times using their air tanks to breathe while face-down.

“We knew there was gonna be no help, this is it, there’s nobody coming to save you,” Rivera said.

After hours in the water, they found a crab trap buoy about 1.5 miles offshore and held on as conditions continued to deteriorate.

“I started freaking out when the sun went down. I didn’t think anyone was going to see it,” Rutledge said.

As night fell, Rivera used a dive light to signal toward shore, hoping someone would notice. That signal was eventually spotted.

Charlotte County Fire & EMS says crews were dispatched at 8:19 p.m. after receiving a report of a flashing SOS light about 1 to 2 miles offshore near Gasparilla Pass.

A marine unit launched from Gasparilla Marina and navigated through high winds and a strong outgoing tide. Around 8:55 p.m., crews located the couple in the water, clinging to a buoy.

They were brought aboard just minutes later and taken back to shore for evaluation. Officials say both declined transport to a hospital.

Rivera told rescuers they had been in the water since around 2:30 p.m., more than six hours.

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office also responded to assist with documentation, and the United States Coast Guard was notified, though local crews handled the rescue.

The couple says they’re grateful to be alive and credit their gear, training, and persistence for helping them survive.

Rivera says he hopes their story serves as a warning to others heading out on the water.

“Take your gear, take your light, it will save your life,” Rivera said.

Their boat, however, is still missing. Rivera says he’s now asking anyone who may spot it offshore to contact authorities.